KEY POINTS:
A group of British tourists on an exchange visit to experience Kiwi culture has been dealt a devastating blow within hours of arriving in Whangarei.
Thieves smashed into a van being used by the five-member group and stole a suitcase and two backpacks as the visitors took in the view of Whangarei Harbour from Mt Aubrey last Thursday afternoon.
It comes just over a week after thieves caused heartache for retired English couple Mick and Janet Russell when their car was broken into at picturesque Whale Bay and medication, passports, plane tickets and clothing were stolen.
The thefts targeting tourists has angered local residents who say the thieves are the scourge of the community and painted a bleak picture of the Northland region.
The group continued its tour of Whangarei but leader Hazel Williams said the theft had certainly taken the gloss off the visit.
The Rotary Group Study Exchange team from Wales and England spent two days in the Bay of Islands before reaching Whangarei on Thursday.
They are half way through their five-week vocational and cultural exchange tour through Northland and Auckland.
"We heard so much positive stuff about the place and this has been a hell of a day," Ms Williams said.
The group, including a policeman, Welsh rugby development officer and a translator for the fire and rescue service, gave a presentation at the Whangarei South Rotary Club meeting on Thursday night.
But personal assistant Rachel Crabtree, who had her suitcase stolen, was unable to attend.
A laptop and promotional Rotary material were also taken.
During the meeting members expressed their disgust. Edgar Johnson said: "Thieves are the scourge of society and we should take a stand against them."
Whangarei District councillor Vince Cocurullo said: "This looks really bad for Whangarei."
A collection during the meeting raised about $600 to help the visitors.
Northland Tourism Development group chairman David Perks said thefts from tourists was not just a Northland problem but a global issue.
"While these things are unfortunate it really doesn't put people off coming here," he said.
"What happens in our region is no more different to what happens around the world. Travel agents sitting in London won't worry about this."
Whangarei and Kaipara police district commander Inspector Paul Dimery said the thefts were not only detrimental to Whangarei's image but impacted on the local residents and the region suffered economically.
"It raises the fear of crime with international tourists, because this sort of stuff does get reported overseas and it impacts on the economy."
Statistics showed police investigated 34 cases of thefts from cars last month, a 34 per cent drop compared with the same month last year.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
